Ten Defining Homegrown Moments | Atlanta United at 10
- Jason Longshore
- Feb 10
- 6 min read
Over the past decade, Atlanta United’s academy has become a cornerstone of the club’s identity, producing players whose moments did not just define individual careers but helped shape the Five Stripes’ story. From dramatic debuts to rivalry goals, first team contracts, and major transfers abroad, these defining moments capture why the Homegrown pathway matters for the club, its supporters, and the future of soccer in this region.
Jackson Conway, Winner vs. Club América (2020 Debut)
Nothing announces a young talent like a big stage goal, and Jackson Conway delivered immediately. Just days after signing his Homegrown contract, Conway made his first team debut in the 2020 Concacaf Champions League and scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Club América. Atlanta’s run ended on aggregate, but the finish remains one of the most memorable debuts in club history, a reminder of the impact a Homegrown player can have when called upon in the biggest moments.
George Bello, Goal in His Second Start (2018)
It was fitting that another Homegrown, George Bello, delivered the cross to Conway. Still just 16 in 2018, Bello turned heads when he scored in only his second MLS start, an early glimpse of his attacking instincts from left back and his comfort on a big stage. His breakthrough reinforced Atlanta United’s belief that academy players could contribute right away, not just someday, and it helped set the standard for the Homegrowns who followed. Bello’s rise ultimately carried him beyond MLS, earning a move to Europe and underscoring what the pathway in Atlanta could become.
Caleb Wiley’s Sale to Chelsea
Caleb Wiley’s move to Chelsea was more than a transfer. It was a statement about how quickly Atlanta United’s Homegrown pipeline has evolved. George Bello helped set the precedent at left back, breaking into the first team and earning a move to Europe. Wiley followed the same path, but at an even faster pace, rising through the academy, becoming a regular contributor, and securing a jump to one of the sport’s biggest clubs while still early in his career. The deal underscored Atlanta United’s growing reputation as a development pathway that does not stop at MLS, but reaches the highest levels of the global game.
Jay Fortune, First MLS Goal in Charlotte (2024)
In 2024, Jay Fortune delivered a milestone every Homegrown dreams of, his first MLS goal, scored on the road in Charlotte. The strike earned him MLS Team of the Matchday honors and marked a defining step in his progression from prospect to contributor. After the match, Fortune was greeted with hugs and smiles from his parents, and a game ball presented by Valentino, a moment of validation years in the making. His father, Andre, had spent countless hours back home near Raleigh pretending to be a goalkeeper as his son fired shots against a wall, work Fortune credited for his growing confidence in front of goal. Moments like that matter because they confirm that academy products are not just roster depth, but players capable of changing games.
George Campbell, Goal Against Orlando in 2021
Rivalry matches live forever, and George Campbell etched his name into one with a goal against Orlando City that helped Atlanta secure a shutout win and highlighted what young defenders from the academy could bring on big nights. A central defender who joined the Atlanta United academy in 2016 and progressed steadily through Atlanta United 2 to the first team, Campbell’s journey was defined by incremental growth. He became a regular contributor in MLS before being traded to CF Montréal in 2022, where he featured heavily in the back line over three seasons, logging well over 5,000 minutes of league play. His trajectory then took him overseas in 2025 when he signed with West Bromwich Albion in England’s Championship, a move that underscored how Homegrowns from Atlanta can develop into professionals capable of anchoring defenses in competitive international environments.
Tyler Wolff, Late Winner to Keep Hope Alive
Tyler Wolff’s late winner against the New York Red Bulls in 2024 was the kind of moment that extended a season. With playoff hopes on the line, he delivered the decisive finish in a match Atlanta had to have, a signature example of a Homegrown stepping forward when the stakes were highest. Beyond that moment, Wolff’s development throughout his time with Atlanta United reflected steady progress and increasing responsibility. He became the first Atlanta United Homegrown to score five goals in an MLS season, showcasing his knack for attacking contributions and his ability to influence games beyond flashes of promise. A player with a blend of physicality, directness, and technical confidence, Wolff continues to grow into a dependable presence in the attacking group, proving what the academy can produce not just in singular moments but in sustained performance.
Machop Chol, Coming Back to Sign a Homegrown Deal
Machop Chol’s path to Atlanta United showed that the Homegrown journey can take different shapes and still lead back home. A standout in DeKalb soccer, Chol continued his development at Wake Forest before Atlanta United brought him into the first team picture in 2022 with a Homegrown Player contract, embracing a route that blended local roots with the college game. His signing reflected the club’s commitment to talent from this region and its willingness to build multiple entry points into the pipeline. Chol went on to earn his minutes through work ethic and versatility, scored his first MLS goal, and became one of the most beloved locker room personalities in club history, a player whose impact was felt as much in the culture as on the field.
Matt Edwards, Earning His First Team Contract
Matt Edwards’ Homegrown moment in 2024 was the culmination of a long, patient climb through every layer of Atlanta United’s system. He began the season as captain of Atlanta United 2 and finished it as a first team Homegrown, signing a deal in June that reflected years of steady development dating back to his arrival in the academy in 2019. Edwards’ journey was defined by leadership and resilience, from captaining the U-19s to making his professional debut with the 2's, then choosing the college route at North Carolina to grow before returning to Atlanta with renewed perspective. Along the way, his bond with fellow Homegrown Jay Fortune became part of the story, rooted in shared years of soccer education and a brotherhood that carried into the first team environment. Edwards earned his opportunity through performances, Open Cup minutes, and the belief of coaches like Matt Lawrey, and his path stands as a reminder that Homegrown success is not always immediate, but it is deeply meaningful when it arrives through commitment, growth, and love of the game.
Efraín Morales, A Homegrown Standard Bearer in CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying
Efraín Morales represented one of the earliest and most meaningful chapters of Atlanta United’s Homegrown story. He signed with the club at a remarkably young age, having been part of Atlanta United’s first ever U-12 team, and grew up inside the academy as the pathway itself was being built. Trusted early and developed over time, Morales became a steady presence through the club’s formative years, serving Atlanta United across multiple seasons while continuing to pursue his academic goals at Georgia Tech. His journey eventually carried him onto the international stage as well, earning the opportunity to represent Bolivia in World Cup qualifying. Morales’ career remains a defining example of what the academy was designed to create: local players who grow with the club, contribute professionally, and reach beyond Atlanta onto the global stage.
Dominik Chong Qui, Rapid Rise to the First Team
Dominik Chong Qui’s rise feels like the next chapter in Atlanta United’s left back lineage, but his story is uniquely Atlanta. An Alpharetta native and lifelong supporter, Chong Qui went from being a season ticket holder in the club’s first year to starting an MLS match for the Five Stripes at just 17. After breaking through with Atlanta United 2, his progression accelerated quickly into a Homegrown contract and first team opportunities, built on both his physical tools and an unusually mature approach to the mental side of the game. Chong Qui speaks openly about meditation, self belief, and the support system around him, from his mother to mentors like Greg Garza, as he adjusts to the demands of the professional level. His journey reflects what the academy is designed to create, not just talented players, but young Atlantans who understand what the badge means because they grew up in the stands before stepping onto the field.
Homegrowns have become essential to the Atlanta United story because they represent something deeper than roster building. They are players who grew up with this club, who understand what it means to wear the badge because they once watched from the stands, trained in the academy, and dreamed of stepping onto that field. Their moments resonate differently because they belong to Atlanta in a way no signing ever fully can, and their success reinforces the belief that this pathway is real. Every debut, every goal, every contract is not only a milestone for the player, but a signal to the next generation across Georgia and the South that Atlanta United is a place where local talent can rise, contribute, and be part of the club’s identity. More than anyone else, Homegrowns inspire what comes next, because they prove that the dream starts here and can still lead anywhere.
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